Kool Aid's Here: A Review of Kool A.D.'s "19/63"

Those were the words shouted by a photographer at Antwon's show at Santos Party House last February that I attended. At first I thought I would be able to hold conversation with her, based on her also noticing that Hot Sugar and Nasty Nigel were in the audience. But his name's Kool A.D. Not Kool Aid. He even says his name in countless Das Racist songs ("Kool A.D. / aka Victor Vasquez / second best rapper with glasses / after E-40").

That's why the solo mixtapes from Kool A.D. and Heems are so important. Whereas some of them are better than others (best ones so far are Heems' Nehru Jackets and Kool A.D.'s 51), they help carve out a personality for the two. They're no longer Das Racist. I wish they still were, but they're not. They're making their own music now.

Which is why the solo mixtapes are also so interesting. Heems has embraced his Indian heritage and the grit of New York rap, making for some politically charged (yet still ladened with Das Racist wit) songs. Kool A.D. is now dividing his time between New York and the Bay. On his great mixtape, 51, Kool A.D. worked almost entirely with rappers from the bay like Main Attrakionz. He's also working with producers from the Bay, like Amaze 88, Young L and Trackademics, making him rap over much more lush and inviting beats. His music's great to listen not just because he's a great MC, but because he has great production.

And that's why a mixtape like 19 could and should work. It boasts an impressive production roster with guys like Steel Tipped Dove, SKYWLKR, Pictureplane and Ad-Rock (yes, the same Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys). But all of 19 feels like a parody of based music.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but Kool A.D. is capable of so much more. First track "Eroika" is fun to listen to (and maybe even the best song off the tape) because at first it's funny to hear Kool A.D. go "bitch I'm Garfield". But soon it's song after song like that. The only difference may be pitched down vocals. There are some songs that are okay, but those don't make up for the amount of filler on the tape.

Luckily, Kool A.D. released 63 as well. Just by the opening song, "63 (Amaze 88 Intro)", you know that 63 will be more in the vein of 51. The majority of the songs are produced by the brilliant Amaze 88, but a handful of the tracks are also produced by Heems' in house producer, Mike Finito, making 63 sound like a mix between Nehru Jackets and 51 (one of my friends also described 63 as sounding "oceanic"). 

Besides from having some excellent production, 63 also has some great guests. "Rap Genius" and "Finito Posse Jawn" are some awesome posse cuts featuring guys like Lakutis, DVS, Mike Finito and Meyhem Lauren. Lakutis' verse on "Rap Genius" is hilarious ("ring ring / telephone / sorry it's the president / hold on, I gotta take this / hello, President Obama?"). It's also impressive to see how Kool A.D. hold his own against some of his guests. I was afraid he would get overshadowed by the Hellfyre Club rappers, Open Mike Eagle and Busdriver, but he holds up quite well against them. Ne$$ of Weekend Money sounds great over the lush "Lush" a song much different compared to his work in Weekend Money.

But this mixtape's the Kool A.D. show, not anybody else's. Who else would think to say something like "New Fidel-cash flow"? On "Exotische Kunst" there's a great line that goes, "look at my invention game / flawless / Edison, couldn't con this / Ellison couldn't see this". But the most surprising track on here is "Lush", where Kool A.D. gets the most personal I've ever heard him. At one point he goes "shouts to Das Racist / and all the fools who paid money / to see exactly how we laced it / you helped me pay rent / and eat food/ so I could say shit / for a living". This is what Kool A.D. wants to do. He wants to rap. So let's let him.

19

5/10

Recommended Tracks: Eroika, Vendedores (feat. Tray 57), NPR, Attitude (feat. Cult Days)
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63

8.5/10

Recommended Tracks: Moneyball, Froyo (feat. Detroit Cydi & Selfsays), Finito Posse Jawn (feat. Chaz Van Queen, DVS, Lakutis, Mike Finito & Davito), Get a Job, Rap Genius (feat. Lakutis, DVS, Dallas Penn & Meyhem Lauren), Question Jam (feat. Busdriver & Beans), Lush (feat. Ne$$), Bering Sea Gold, Exotische Kunst
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Playlist: For All Who Are Alone On Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day sucks. You have to hear about everyone's "valentine" or who's going to be their valentine, whereas you don't have one. Because for some reason, everyone but you is in a relationship. Of course, there are a couple of cures for Feelingdepressedbecauseeveryonehasasignificantotherbutyou syndrome. But after awhile, listening to The Smiths, eating ice cream and watching Titanic gets to be a bit redundant. Luckily I compiled a list of songs, for all who are alone on the worst day of the year.

Note: Some of the video links may not work on this page, but open them in a new tab and you will be able to hear the songs.

Antwon - SKULLKRUSH

San Jose rapper Antwon weaves a story of a destructive relationship, that he cannot get out of it. Hence his saying "I'm not around you much / but when I am / I feel my skull crush". He also raps over Salem's "Skullcrush", for good measure.

R.E.M. - So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)

From the prolific college rock band, Michael Stipe's lyrics are the highlight of this song, whereas most of the time he mumbles though them with strange non-sequiturs. But on "So. Centra Rain (I'm Sorry)", Stipe tells a straightforward story of a bad relationship with lines such as "..but you never called". But when he sings "I'm sorry!" repeatedly through the chorus, you wonder who's fault it is.

Cities Aviv - W E T D R E A M

Memphis via Brooklyn rapper, Cities Aviv just left a girl he met on tour. He's on the flight back to Memphis, thinking about all the drugs he'll be taking to forget this. He's frozen like this New York City weather. Instead of crying, he lets these lyrics flow like water from his eyes.

Caribou - Odessa

Canadian electronic musician, Dan Snaith, under his Caribou moniker tells the story of a woman leaving a relationship (and taking the kids with her). Compared to the other songs on this list, it's not as depressing, because we see the woman break free from the man's stifling grip and starting a life anew.

Girls - Vomit

Based on a true story, lead singer Cristopher Owens sings about going off into the night and searching for his missing girlfriend. He's addicted to this abusive relationship, letting her just disappear whenever she wants. A song so powerful, by the time Owens reaches the end singing, "Come into my heart / my love", you feel his pain.

Kanye West - Blame Game (feat. John Legend)

On this highlight from Mr. West's, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezy and his girl have just broken up. But it's not over with their splitting. They're spreading rumors about each other, try to make each other jealous and her brother uses his money to buy coke! By the time Chris Rock steps in at the end, for an end of song skit, it feels like a relief.

Gang of Four - Anthrax

This song if for all the people who vow never to be in a relationship/love ever again. Just listen to the lyrics, "love'll get you like a case of anthrax / and that's something I don't wanna catch". Gang of Four paint love to be more of a deadly disease than an normal human trait.

Dr. Dre - Bitches Ain't Shit (feat. Snoop Dogg, Dat Nigga Daz, Kurupt & Jewel)

This song's for the fellas. So "Bitches Ain't Shit", is pretty sexist and ladened with misogyny. Yet, as someone who's ever felt betrayed, or used by a girl, this song hits pretty close to home.

Cloud Nothings - Cut You

Another song about a destructive relationship (there are and will be a lot of these!). What's interesting about this song, is how Dylan Baldi is the one causing the destructive relationship. Whereas in many songs, the singer is the victim. But Baldi is the one causing it, with the bridge "I miss you, cause I like damage / I need something I can hurt".

Fugazi - Promises

I don't know why, but when punk bands aren't writing political songs, they write great break up songs. Such as the case with Fugazi's "Promises". Ian MacKaye starts the song sounding like he's making a promise to someone ("we will be / forever), until the chorus when him and Guy Picciotto both scream "PROMISES ARE SHIT!" in unison.

Bloc Party - Talons

"Talons" is off Bloc Party's 2008 album, Intimacy, which is a break up album. But "Talons" is the song  where Kele Okereke lashes out at his ex. He thinks he's escaped her grasp, but every night, the thoughts of her come back. He goes through his head of what went wrong before he asks this question: "oh when did you / become such a slut?!"

Madvillain - Fancy Clown (feat. Viktor Vaughn)

DOOM gets into a fight with his alter ego (Viktor Vaughn) over his ex. A song so interesting, personable and strange, that it's something you have to hear.

Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way

Of course this song would be on here. Fleetwood Mac were masters of their craft. They made radio friendly pop music, that contained personal subject matter underneath the surface. "Go Your Own Way" is basically a "screw you" song. Go your own way and do what you want. I don't care about you any more.

Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Joe Jackson isn't really depressed or angry in this song. He's just confused. He sees "pretty woman walking with gorillas" down his street. He just doesn't understand why these women are drawn to these men, leaving him to ask the question, "is she really going out with him?".

Grimes - Skin

Grimes' music is always very atmospheric and it's almost impossible to understand what she's singing on many of her songs. But when you hear snippets here and there in "Skin", you notice that the song's about a break up with lyrics such as "you act like nothing ever happened / but it meant the world to me".

Japandroids - I Quit Girls

After going through a break up that was terrible, what do you want to do? You never want to be involved with a member of that sex again in any way. This is exactly what Brian King sings about on the closing song of Japandroids' excellent Post-Nothing. "After her" he quit girls.

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - Build-a-Bitch

Even though the song's title refers to females, the "lesson" of the song applies to everyone. eXquire has just broke up with his girlfriend, and this time he's had it, so he decides to "Build-a-Bitch". And his bitch is perfect. She likes all the same music and movies as him. They have sex and play Wii. But soon eXquire has a realization. All these problems involving relationships are life. They'll happen no matter what. You can't build no bitch.

Breaking the Image: A Review of Le1f's "Fly Zone" and Cakes Da Killa's "The Eulogy"

"Let's not make gay NYC rap a 'thing,'" said Le1f in an article about New York City's rising gay rap scene. See, in rap music, or any kind of music these days, everyone has their own image, personality, traits, etc. But unfortunately, a rapper's image can become bigger than his/her music. RiFF RaFF is an amazing rapper, but on YouTube videos, people talk more about how crazy he acts, how James Franco's character in Spring Breakers  is based off of him, or what he's wearing. Guys like Le1f and Cakes Da Killa (along with rappers like Mykki Blanco and Zebra Katz) could be potential victims for a fate like this.

But luckily, they don't let their image define them. They let their music do that.

Le1f's excellent Dark York was released last year, mostly produced by him, and a couple amazing yet unknown producers. On Dark York Le1f had murky, dark dance beats which he rapped under, making it hard to discern his lyrics at times. But on Fly Zone, Le1f keeps the same type of beats (none of which are produced by him) but puts his voice at the forefront, letting the listener focus on his lyrics as well as the beats. Through the majority of the album, Le1f reminds us of how fly he is, counts money until he's sleepy and makes some references to his sexuality, but never bashes us over the head with it.

That's why Cakes Da Killa and Le1f succeed at doing what they do. They're gay and black, but they don't let that dominate their music. They're just as fly as anyone else.

What's interesting about Le1f's Fly Zone, is the overall sound of it. It sounds like some spaced out cloud rap infused with some dance beats coming from a different dimension with a swagged out MC narrating this whole thing. Fly Zone is pretty one note, with Le1f rapping about his lifestyle on each track. But the way he presents it is so interesting, that you feel like this is the first time you've heard a rapper rap about his/her life. The hook of album highlight "Coins" goes "Me and money match, where it’s ash, get my coins / At school I used to trap, now I rap, I’m getting my coins / Just chillin with my camp, tryina stack / I’m getting my coins, getting my coins / Getting my coins / Every night and day I be getting my coins".

The hook of "Coins" makes it seem like another boast rap, but Le1f's flow and voice change-up make it something really worth hearing.

Fly Zone, also has some solid features on it. Kitty Pryde does her usual cute white girl shtick on "Pocahontas", Safe's voice is looped through the song "Autopilot" but most surprisingly, Haleek Maul (?!), who's the last person I'd expect to collaborate with Le1f, shows up to spit an amazing verse on "The Whip".

In an interview Cakes Da Killa cited Le1f as his "foremother" (along with Antonio Blair). Yet, Cakes' music is much more different than Le1f's. Whereas Le1f's voice blends more into the music, Cakes Da Killa dominates the tracks with intensity. Cakes Da Killa is a bit more open (and explicit) with his sexuality than Le1f is, making it very interesting to listen to the two of them. Yet, Cakes doesn't get overly political with his sexual orientation. He's gay, but he has swag like anybody else.

Like Le1f's Fly Zone, The Eulogy offers some great production. One of the best songs, "Keep It Coochie" finds Cakes rapping over Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train" popularized by the Woody Allen film Radio Days. "Currency" has an ominous, pulsating beat.

The song "Goodie Goodies" perfectly sums up Cakes Da Killa's personality with the line "and I never give a fuck / so I do what I want". Album closer and possibly best song from the album, "The Eulogy" has the same affect of "Goodie Goodies". It let's us see Cakes' mantra. He has boots made of pheasant, gets into fights with lesbians and is not afraid to fight and leave you headless.

On the song "Airbending" from Le1f's Fly Zone there's a line that goes "I am / whatever you say I am / stop worrying about how gay I am / or how gay I'm not". This one line sees Le1f breaking the image of a homosexual rapper. It doesn't matter how gay you are when it comes to your music, it depends on the music it self.

Le1f - Fly Zone
8/10
Recommended Tracks: Airbending, The Whip (feat. Haleek Maul), Coins, Air Max (feat. Rahel)

Cakes Da Killa - The Eulogy
9/10
Recommended Tracks: Get Right (Get Wet), Keep It Coochie, Goodie Goodies, Currency, The Eulogy